Latin America Cinema
By Alice's definition, Latin America includes all the films we have from Mexico and South America.
Largely represented here are the films of Mexico and Brazil, but there are also treasures from Argentina, Cuba and Colombia.
Many of these films are set against a political or religious backdrop, particularly those from South America. For example the searing social commentary of 'City of God' leaves the viewer not only with the memory of an electrifying and well-crafted film but an insight into the harsh realities of Brazilian street kids. Celebrated film maker Hector Babenco did the same with the brutal but incredible, Pixote (1981), then turned to political prisoners with the fantastic 'Kiss of the Spiderwoman' (1985).
Mexican films defy categorisation and cover subjects from dog fights ('Amores Perros') to young love ('Y Tu Mama Tambien') to sci-fi ('Cronos). Robert Rodriguez began his career here with 'El Mariachi'. New talents emerging include Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Alex de la Iglesia, and Guillermo del Toro who like Rodriguez has already made the move to Hollywood.
To find films from a specific country use the By Country link to the left.
Secuestro Express (2005)
6.6/10
Director: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Starring: Mia Maestro, Ruben Blades, Carlos Julio Molina, Pedro Perez, Carlos Madera, Jean...
Venezuela's top-grossing film of all time is this taut thriller about a couple who are kidnapped and endure a night of mishaps and terror at the hands... Read more
Send a Bullet ( Manda Bala ) (2007)
7.3/10
Director: Jason Kohn
Brazil is rife with crime and corruption at all levels of society; Jason Kohn's award-winning documentary examines several of the more imaginative way... Read more
Silent Light (2007)
7.3/10
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Starring: Cornelio Wall Fehr, Maria Pankratz, Miriam Toews, Peter Wall, Jacobo Klassen, El...
A transcendent meditation on love and religion, filmed in Northern Mexico by native auteur Carlos Reygadas ('Battle in Heaven'). The story revolves ar... Read more
Sin Nombre (2009)
7.6/10
Director: Cary Fukunaga
Starring: Paulina Gaitan, Kristyan Ferrer, Edgar Flores
Seeking the promise of America, a beautiful young woman, Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), joins her father on an odyssey to cross the gauntlet of the Latin Ame... Read more
Sleep Dealer (2008)
5.9/10
Director: Alex Rivera
Starring: Jacob Vargas, Leonor Varela, Luis Fernando Pena
In a futuristic yet not unfamiliar world, the lives of three strangers connect in surprising ways amid a backdrop of militarization, closed borders an... Read more
Son of the Bride (2001)
7.9/10
Director: Juan Jose Campanella
Starring: Norma Aleandro, Hector Alterio, Ricardo Darin
After a middle-aged restaurateur suffers a heart attack, he takes stock of his life and re-examines his relationships with his bitter ex-wife, his est... Read more
The 33 (2015)
6.9/10
Director: Patricia Riggen
Starring: Antonio Banderas, James Brolin, Juliette Binoche, Lou Diamond Phillips, Rodrigo...
In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gol... Read more
The Aura (2004)
7.2/10
Director: Fabian Bielinsky
Starring: Ricardo Darin, Dolores Fonzi, Alejandro Awada, Pablo Cedron, Jorge D'Elia, Nahue...
A spell-binding and richly textured heist film centred around an epileptic taxidermist who leads an isolated existence, harbouring fantasies of pullin... Read more
The Clan (2015)
7/10
Director: Pablo Trapero
Starring: Guillermo Francella
In Argentina everybody knows about the Puccio Clan case. In 1985 it was discovered that a spate of kidnappings and murders had been the work of the Pu... Read more
The Crime of Father Amaro (2002)
Director: Carlos Carrera
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Ana Claudia Talancon, Sancho Gracia
Aka "The Crime of Padre Amaro". Recently ordained a priest, 24 year-old Father Amaro (Gael Garcia Bernal) is sent to a small parish church in Los Reye... Read more